CityLife

Sport at its best is a heady mixture of passion, laughter, tears, disappointment and triumph. It provides a distorting mirror to “real” life, echoing the challenges of day to day living but providing a set of rules where the winners or losers are easily defined.<br /> <br /> Using the tale of Bolton Wanderers progress to the first Wembley FA Cup final this wonderful production engages on all levels; the comic passion of the loyal supporters, the sense of belonging whilst stood on the terrace with other fans, the brief Saturday distraction taking people away from the cares of the everyday. With fine performances all round from an excellent cast we are taken on a wave of hope as the team progress through the rounds of the Cup, treading the narrow line between success and failure. The challenges of economic downturn, the still raw personal loss of the World War and the excitement of building new lives together are sidelined, but never eliminated, as the Cup run unfolds. At the end of the day this play is about the strength and power of community. The political activist might struggle to get people to his meetings and the church group might get attendance through duty rather than desire, but the supporters linking arms on the Wembley touchline illustrate the true potential of people coming together for common cause. So whether you are a Bolton fan, a football fan, or neither, if you have a soul this play will speak to you. Magnificent.<br />